Odd Man Out

by W. W. Jacobs

soon wear off."

  He took 'old of Mrs. Jennings's arm agin and began to tell 'er 'ow lonely'is life was afore she came acrost his path like an angel that had lostits way. And he went on like that till she told Emma that she'd either'ave to go off 'ome or scream. Ted interfered agin then, and, arterlistening to wot he 'ad got to say, Charlie said as 'ow he'd try and keephis love under control a bit more.

  "She won't stand much more of it," he ses to Ted, arter they 'ad got 'omethat night. "I shouldn't be surprised if she don't turn up to-morrow."

  Ted shook his 'ead. "She'll turn up to oblige Emma," he ses; "butthere's no need for you to overdo it, Charlie. If her young man 'appenedto get to 'ear of it it might cause trouble."

  "I ain't afraid of 'im," ses Charlie, "not if your description of 'im isright."

  "Emma knows 'im," ses Ted, "and I know she don't think much of 'im. Shesays he ain't as big as I am."

  Charlie smiled to himself and laid awake for a little while thinking ofpet names to surprise Mrs. Jennings with. He called 'er a fresh oneevery night for a week, and every night he took 'er a little bunch o'flowers with 'is love. When she flung 'em on the pavement he pretendedto think she 'ad dropped 'em; but, do wot he would, 'e couldn't frighten'er into staying away, and 'is share of music-'alls and bus rides andthings like that was more than 'e cared to think of. All the time Tedwas as happy as a sand-boy, and one evening when Emma asked 'im to go'ome to supper 'e was so pleased 'e could 'ardly speak.

  "Father thought he'd like to see you," ses Emma. "I shall be proud toshake 'im by the 'and," ses Ted, going red with joy.

  "And you're to come, too, Sophy," ses Emma, turning to Mrs. Jennings.

  Charlie coughed, feeling a bit orkard-like, and Emma stood there as ifwaiting for 'im to go.

  "Well, so long," ses Charlie at last. "Take care o' my little prizepacket."

  "You can come, too, if you like," ses Emma. "Father said I was to bringyou. Don't 'ave none of your nonsense there, that's all."

  Charlie thanked 'er, and they was all walking along, him and Mrs.Jennings behind, when Emma looked over 'er shoulder.

  "Sophy's young man is coming," she ses.

  "Ho!" ses Charlie. He walked along doing a bit o' thinking, and by andby 'e gives a little laugh, and he ses, "I--I don't think p'r'aps I'llcome arter all."

  "Afraid?" ses Emma, with a nasty laugh.

  "No," ses Charlie.

  "Well, it looks like it," ses Emma.

  "He's brave enough where wimmen are concerned," ses Mrs. Jennings.

  "I was thinking of you," ses Charlie.

  "You needn't trouble about me," ses Mrs. Jennings. "I can look aftermyself, thank you."

  Charlie looked round, but there was no help for it. He got as far awayfrom Mrs. Jennings as possible, and when they got to Emma's house he wentin last.

  Emma's father and mother was there and two or three of 'er brothers andsisters, but the fust thing that Charlie noticed was a great lump of aman standing by the mantelpiece staring at 'im.

  "Come in, and make yourselves at 'ome," ses Mr. White. "I'm glad to seeyou both. Emma 'as told me all about you."

  Charlie's 'art went down into 'is boots, but every-body was so busydrawing their chairs up to the table that they didn't notice 'ow pale he'ad gone. He sat between Mr. White and Mrs. Jennings, and by and by,when everybody was talking, he turned to 'im in a whisper, and asked 'imwho the big chap was.

  "Mrs. Jennings's brother," ses Mr. White; "brewer's drayman he is."

  Charlie said, "Oh!" and went on eating, a bit relieved in 'is mind.

  "Your friend and my gal 'll make a nice couple," ses Mr. White, lookingat Ted and Emma, sitting 'and in 'and.

  "She couldn't 'ave a better husband," ses Charlie, whispering again; "butwhere is Mrs. Jennings's young man? I 'eard he was to be here."

  Mr. White put down 'is knife and fork. "Eh?" he ses, staring at 'im.

  "Mrs. Jennings's intended?" ses Charlie.

  "Who are you getting at?" ses Mr. White, winking at 'im.

  "But she 'as got one, ain't she?" ses Charlie. "That'll do," ses Mr.White, with another wink. "Try it on somebody else."

  "Wot are you two talking about?" ses Emma, who 'ad been watching 'em.

  "He's trying to pull my leg," ses 'er father, smiling all over his face."Been asking me where Mrs. Jennings's young man is. P'r'aps you oughtn'tto 'ave told us yet, Emma."

  "It's all right," ses Emma. "He's got a very jealous disposition, poorfellow; and me and Sophy have been telling 'im about a young man just totease 'im. We've been describing him to 'imself all along, and hethought it was somebody else."

  She caught Charlie's eye, and all in a flash he saw 'ow he 'ad been done.Some of 'em began to laugh, and Mrs. Jennings put her 'and on his andgave it a squeeze. He sat there struck all of a heap, wondering wot hewas going to do, and just at that moment there was a knock at the streetdoor.

  "I'll open it," he ses.

  He jumped up before anybody could stop 'im and went to the door. Twoseconds arter Ted Denver followed 'im, and that is last he ever saw ofCharlie Brice, he was running down the road without 'is hat as hard as hecould run.

  "He was running down the road without 'is hat as hard ashe could run."]